Roller applicator



Aug. 14, 1956 H. P. MGMILLAN ROLLER APFLICATOR Filed April 7, 1953 INVENTOR RLLER APPLCATOR Hugh P. McMillan, Baltimore, Md.

Appiication April 7, 1.953, Serial No. 347,249

'2 Claims. (Cl. 29-11'6) This invention relates to a roller applicator and more particularly to a roller applicator for applying preservative and/ or decorative coatings to surfaces.

The present invention is directed to the problem of providing a roller applicator, commonly called a paint roller when the applicator is used for painting, which is relatively inexpensive to malle and which may be readily disassembled for cleaning after it has been used. As is Well known, such applicators commonly comprise a tubular paint applying member which is rotatably supported on a shaft from which a handle extends. During use, such as in painting, paint accumulates on the supporting structure for the roller and after the painting has been finished it is necessary to clean the entire structure in order that it will be satisfactorily usable for the next painting operation. With conventional roller applicators the task of satisfactorily cleaning the supporting structure for the tubular paint applying member, or roller, -is found to be time-consuming and relatively difficult.

lt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved roller applicator useful for applying paint or the like which is capable 'of being readily disassembled for cleaning after it has been used.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a roller applicator which may be readily disassembled into its component parts thereby not only facilitating cleaning but also making it easy to replace an individual part if necessary.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a roller applicator which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Briefly described, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an elongated shaft having a handle extending therefrom. A pair of spaced-apart end caps are rotatably mounted on said shaft and each of said end caps has a peripheral ange extending in substantially parallel relation to the shaft. These a'n'ges each have a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings therein which extend parallel to the shaft, the mouths of the opening in the flange of one end cap facing the mouths of the openings in the flange of the opposite end cap.

A plurality of metal strips extend between the end caps and the end portions of these strips are located in the openings in the end cap flanges. Furthermore, the ends of the strips preferably abut against the closed ends or bottoms of said openings. The end caps are retained on the shaft by Washer and stop assemblies which tend to maintain the end caps against the ends of the strips whereby the tubular paint applying member, or roller, may be slid over the end caps and strips. The roller is proportioned so that its inner surface fits `over and frictionally engages the strips.

When it is desired to dismantle the assembly for cleaning, the roller may 'oe slid off of the strips and then the retaining means for one of the end caps is removed permitting this end cap to be slid olf of the shaft. Since the end portions of the strips are slidably positioned within Z,'?58,34 Patented Aug. 14, 1956 A2 the openings in the flanges of the end caps, the end caps and strips may be readily disassembled thereby facilitating access to the inner surface of the end caps for cleaning. After the various parts have been cleaned they may be readily reassembled.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the elongated strips which extend between the end caps are maintained against movement radially outward from the supporting shaft by means of a retaining ring which surrounds and contacts these strips 'approximately midway between the end caps. Such a retaining ring minimizes any tendency of the strips to bow outward and provide a limited area of lcontact with 'the tubular paint applying member or roller.

Other objects and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from 'the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the attached drawin'g in which:

Fig. l is an elevational View, partly in section, of one embodiment of a roller applicator constructed in accordance with the teaching of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the roller applicator shown n Fig. l, the 'tubular paint applying member shown in Fig. l being omitted from Fig. 2;

Fig'. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l lshowing a portion of another embodiment lof a feller applicator constructed in accordance with the teaching of the present invention; and

Fig. 5 lis a sectional view taken on line S-S of Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 143 it is seen lthat the embodiment of the present invention shown lthere includes an elongated shaft 1 from which 'extends a 'reversely bent handle portion 2 provided with a suitable grasp 3. Shaft 1 and handle portion '2 are preferably formed or mund metal stoel( 'which is sufficiently smooth so that the end caps, described later, may readily 'rotate on the shaft.

A pair of end ycaps 4 and 5 are rotatably mounted in spaced-apart relation o'n 'shaft 1 as shown in Figs. l and 2. Since end caps 4 and 5 are similar in construction it is deemed necessary to describe only one of them in detail, and end cap 4 is 'selee'tedfo'r detailed description. This end lcap 1has a central portion t5 which includes a hub 7, the latter having a central opening therein. The Vleft end of the shaft 1, as viewed in Fi'g. l, is journaled in hub 7 so that end cap 4' is rotatably 'mounted en shaft i. End caps 4 and 5 are preferably made of plastic material although they could be ma'de of metal or other suitable material. Each `end cap is also preferably formed in one piece.

A cylindrical-shaped `peripheral flange, or ring, 8 extends from 'centra-l portion 6 in substantially parallel relationto shaft 1' as shown iii Fig. l. This flange S has a plurality of circumferential-ly spaced apart openings 9 therein, as shown in Figs. `'l and 3, these openings extending substantially parallel to shaft 1. There are four such openings in each of the flanges '8 but three or more than four could be provided if desired. Each of 'the openn ings 9 has a mouth 1li and a closed end o1 bottom l1. The mouths of the openings in the flange of one end cap face themouthfs of the openings in the flange of the other end cap as shown in Fig. l.

A plurality of elongated support members 12 extend between end caps 4 and 5 'as shown in Figs. 1 and 2f. In the embodimentof the invention shown in Figs. 1 3, these support members 12 are shown as being vstrip-shaped and are preferably made of sheet metal which is somewhat resilient but nevertheless sufficiently strong for the purpose intended. Members 12 are bowed out slightly with respect to shaft 1 but they can be described as being generally parallel to shaft 1 insofar as their general positioning is concerned.

The number of support members or strips 12 corresponds to the number of openings 9 in each end cap. Furthermore, each strip 12 has correspondingly shaped end portions 13 and each end portion 13 is located in an openmg 9, the size of the opening with reference to the size of the end portion being such that the opening receives the end portion easily and yet not too loosely. In this manner, each strip 12 is supported adjacent its opposite ends by the two end caps 4 and 5 and yet, since the end portions 13 of the strips are slidably positioned within openings 9, the end caps and strips may be readily disassembled by simply removing the caps endwise from the strips.

In order to retain the strips and end caps in assembled relation, shaft 1 has raised tangs 14 located adjacent one end of the shaft and a retaining screw 15 located at the other end of the shaft. Thus, when it is desired to assemble the structure, end cap 5 is positioned on shaft 1 adjacent tangs 14, a rotatable spacing washer 16 being provided between the hub 7 of end cap 5 and tangs 14. If the strips 12 have been disassembled from the ends caps, end portions 13 of the strips are then seated in the openings 9 located in ange or ring 8 of end cap 5 preferably until the very ends of the strips abut the closed ends or bottoms 11 of these openings as is shown in Fig. 1. Correspondingly, end cap 4 is engaged with the other end portions 13 of strips 12.

With the parts assembled as just described, hub portion 7 of end cap 4 will just tit over the left-hand end of shaft 1 as seen in Fig. l. Screw 15 is then threaded into this end of shaft 1 which is suitably interiorly threaded to receive the screw. A rotatable washer 17 is located between the head of screw 15 and hub 7 as shown in Fig. 1. The dimensions of the assembled structure are such that when screw 15 is fully threaded into the left end of shaft 1 as shown in Fig. l, end caps 4 and 5 are rotatably mounted on shaft 1 and retain and support the elongated support members or strips 12, all as is shown in Fig. l.

With the parts thus assembled, a tubular paint applying member or roller, designated generally by the reference numeral 18, may be slipped endwise onto strips 12, member 1S being proportioned to t over and frictionally engage the strips and be supported thereby. While the tubular roller 18 does not per se form the present invention, it may suitably comprise an inner plastic shell 19 having a fabric layer 20 suitably secured to the outer surface of shell 19 and a work-engaging outer layer 21 of felt, wool or the like suitably secured to fabric layer 20. As is Well known, the surface or outer layer 21 is wetted with paint and it is this surface which applies the paint to the surface being painted when the roller applicator is used.

From the foregoing description it is readily apparent that the roller applicator may be disassembled quickly and expeditiously by reversing the steps mentioned in the assembling. In other words, the tubular paint applying member 18 may be slipped endwise from engagement with the elongated members or strips 12. Thereupon screw 15 may be Unthreaded from shaft 1 and end cap 4 slid endwise from the shaft. The end cap and strip assembly may be slid off as a unit or the end cap 4 may be removed first and then strips 12 and end cap 5 removed. Since the end caps and strips are readily disengageable from each other, the parts may be readily cleaned and reassembled for subsequent use.

The embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing differs from the embodiment shown in Figs. l-3 in that the Figs. 4 and 5 embodiment includes means for positively retaining the elongated support members or strips from moving radially outward with respect to the shaft. lnasmuch as a number of the parts of the structure shown in Figs. 4 and 5 are identical in construction to corresponding parts shown in Figs. 1-3 the same reference numerals are employed to designate corresponding identical parts.

Referring to Figs.v 4 and 5, it will be noted that each elongated support member or strip 12 has a depressed or valley portion 22 which is located substantially midway of the length of the strip. In order to restrain the supporting strips 12 from bowing outward from shaft 1 to too great an extent, the strips are engaged by a retaining ring 23, preferably of metal, which engages each strip at the depressed or valley portion 22 thereof. Ring 23 is of such a size that, when seated in Valleys 22, it does not project outwardly beyond the outer surfaces of strips 12 and hence does not interfere with the smooth positioning of the tubular paint applying member 18 upon these supporting strips.

As indicated, ring 23 prevents the support strips 12 from becoming bulged out or bowed out to such an extent that they would create a localized support for the tubular paint applying member or roller 18 and thus make it difficult to achieve a uniform pressure of the roller against a surface being painted. It is obviously desirable to provide support for the roller 18 throughout a substantial portion of its inner periphery as this eliminates the aforementioned objection plus any possible tendency of the roller to rock on the supporting strips. The arrangement provided bythe construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 achieves this objective. Furthermore, it is apparent that this arrangement does not affect the ready assembly and disassembly of the structure since the end caps can be removed from the strips in the same manner as has been described with reference to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 3 and, as desired, the ring 23 can be readily removed from contact with the strips. Since the ring does not bind the strips from the inside, these strips can readily ex inwardly when the tubular paint applying member or roller 18 is slipped onto the strips.

It will accordingly be seen that l have invented a new and improved roller applicator especially useful for applying paint or the like to surfaces in that the applicator may be readily dismantled to enable its component parts to be thoroughly cleaned. Furthermore, the ready assembly and disassembly facilitates replacement of individual parts if necessary and the entire structure is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

In describing embodiments of my invention I refer to the end portions 13 of the elongated supporting members 12 as being located in openings 9 in flanges 8 of the end caps 4 and 5. This is a particularly expeditious and inexpensive way of providing a support means for the end portions of these elongated members which is adapted to slidably receive and retain these end portions. However, the central idea is to provide a support means into which said end portions may be slidably positioned enclwise and the end caps retained against the ends of the elongated support members to hold the assembly in assembled relation. It is therefore clear that mechanical equivalents which will enable this to be accomplished are within the scope of my invention as are mechanical equivalents for retaining the end caps against the ends of the elongated support members while permitting the end caps to rotate with respect to the supporting shaft.

Accordingly, while I have described and illustrated embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to be restricted solely thereto but that I do intend to cover all modications thereof which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and which come within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A structure for supporting the tubular paint applying member of a roller applicator useful for applying paint or the like, said structure comprising a pair of spaced-apart end caps, a shaft journaled in said end caps, each of said end caps having a peripheral ange extending therefrom in substantially parallel relation to said shaft, the facing surfaces of said anges each having a plurality of openings extending inwardly from said surfaces to bottoms located within said flange, a plurality of elongated support members extending between said end caps, the end portions of said elongated support members being slidably located in said ange openings and the ends of said elongated support members abutting against the bottoms of said openings, and means on said shaft engaging said end caps to maintain the bottoms of said openings in said abutting relation with the ends of said elongated support members.

2. A structure for supporting the tubular paint applying member of a roller applicator useful for applying paint or the like, said structure comprising a pair 0f spaced-apart end caps, a shaft journalled in said end caps, each of said end caps having a peripheral ange extending therefrom in substantially parallel relationship to said shaft, the facing surfaces of said anges each having a plurality of openings extending inwardly from said surfaces to bottoms located within said ange, a plurality of elongated resilient support members extending between said end caps, the end portions of said elongated support members being slidably located in said ilange openings and the ends of said elongated support members abutting against the bottoms of said openings, the central portion of said support members between said end portionsbeing bowed radially outwardly from said shaft, a radially inwardly depressed portion in each of said support members midway of the length thereof, a ring seated in said depressed portions to limit the radial displacement of the central portions of said support members from said shaft, and means on said shaft engaging said end caps to maintain the bottoms of said openings in said abutting relation with the ends of said elongated support members.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 347,671 Webb Aug. 17, 1886 352,087 Fullerton Nov. 2, 1886 805,011 Gomber Nov. 21, 1905 960,227 Jordan May 21, 1910 995,390 Underhill June 13, 1911 1,778,830 Irvine Oct. 21, 1930 2,089,553 Hartman Aug. 10, 1937 2,109,468 Conant Mar. 1, 1938 2,562,923 Kolvoski Aug. 7, 1951 2,627,707 Brooks Feb. 10, 1953 2,703,919 Achberger Mar. 15, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,857 Great Britain June 11, 1913 

